Fire-escape



(No Model.)

J. MARTIN. FIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Apr. 18, 1893.

A 5 if a I wimwm Tu: mums UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHAN MARTIN, OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,504, dated April 18, 1893. Application filed January 16, 1893. Serial No. 458,609- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoIIAN MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Galveston, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and tothe letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has for its object to provide a fire-escape or device to be used for such purpose, with a cord or rope of suitable length which has at one end a Weight to serve as a projectile to facilitate throwing the cord or rope to a person at any part of the burning building, after which the fire-escape or other device necessary for the purpose may be conveniently elevated to the .window or other portion of the building where most needed for the rescue of person or property.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and practically constructed receptacle adapted to receive the fireman in ascending or descending from the burning building or for the escape of the occupants or to receive valuables, also to provide a novel device for suspending the receptacle from the cord or rope at any point thereon.

These several objects above enumerated I attain by the construction substantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents a front elevation of a portion of a Window showing the application of my invention thereto; Fig. 2 a vertical section thereof; Fig. 3 a detail view in perspective showing the suspension device for connecting the receptacle to the cord or rope, the hinged wings thereof being open and the cord or rope with weight in position between them; Fig. 4 a perspective view of the receptacle and the suspension device to which it is connected.

In the accompanying drawings A represents a portion of a window to show the application of my invention thereto, and has suitably connected to its inner side, brackets or other supporting devices a for the purpose of supporting the ends of a transverse rod B, which rod is of the required strength to bear any weight suspended therefrom. Connected to ably connected to its free end a suitable pulley D.

To the chain or any other portion of the device, is connected one end of acord or rope E which has upon its end a suitable weight to serve as a projectile F.

When it is desired to connect the device to any part of a building through the assistance of a fireman or one of the occupants of the house, the weight upon the end of the cord or rope is thrown up to the person or into the window, after which the device may be conveniently and quickly elevated and attached to any portion of the building desired. The cord or rope E may be the usual hoisting cord or rope employed in fire-escapes and passes over the pulley D as shown in dotted lines of Fig. 1 and to which is suspended the basket or receptacle G. This basket is preferably made of sheet metal, either round, square or rectangular as shown, and is provided with a hinged door H upon one of its sides to admit one or more firemen from the side of the receptacle instead of climbing over the top. The side door is of value in the rescue of children, invalids, or elderly persons, enabling access to the interior to be more quickly and conveniently made than from the top of the receptacle, also valuables may be placed therein without loss of time.

The hinged door H is provided with a suitable latch d for holding it closed and which may be opened from the interior as well as from the exterior of the receptacle.

The top of the receptacle is provided with hinged sectional covers I and a bail K pro vided with a swiveled hook c, said bail being hinged, pivoted, or connected to the receptacle in any well known and desirable manner.

The receptacle is provided with a window N and below it an opening f of suitable size to admit a hose-nozzle to pass out through it, should it be required to throw a stream of water from the receptacle by the fireman in the receptacle, or to be used to admit fresh air to the occupants, the window enabling the fireman within to properly direct the stream of water from the hose.

I provide a very novel device for suspendingthe receptacle from the hoisting cord or rope, which consists of two clamping-wings L hinged together and having their inner surfaces provided with corrugations, serrations, spurs, or any other form that will serve as gripping surfaces, to hold the device at any place on the rope or cord required. The clamping-wings L are provided with any well known form of fastening to hold the two wings together firmly against the rope or cord when in a closed position as shown in Fig. 4. The means which I have shown are pivoted pins 9 adapted to engage with loops h, the headsof the pins after pasing through the loops being turned at right angles to prevent them being disconnected.

The clamping-wings L are each provided with a double snap-hook M, so that when the hook upon the bail is connected thereto the downward pull or strain upon the clampingplates will be equal and thus prevent injury to the hinge.

The suspending device can be connected at any point along the rope or cord and will be held firmly thereon by means of the gripping surfaces upon the inner faces of the wings.

There are many modifications or changes that may be made in the invention without departing from the principle thereof, and I reserve the right to make any change or alterations in the several details of construction as would be considered as coming within ordinary mechanical skill.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A fire-escape, consisting of a rod, means for connecting said rod to a window or other portion of abuilding, a sleeve adjustably connected to the rod and means for holding the sleeve in its adjusted position thereon, a chain and pulley depending from the sleeve, and a rope or cord of suitable length connected to the fire-escape and having a projectile at one end, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a fire-escape, the combination with the hoisting rope thereof, of a receptacle adapted for attachment thereto, said receptacle having a hinged sectional top and a hinged sidedoor, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a fire-escape, the combination with the hoisting rope thereof, of a receptacle provided with a hinged side-door, a hinged sectional top, a window on its side and an opening below it, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a fire-escape,a suitable hoisting rope, a receptacle provided with a side door, awindow upon its side, an opening below the window, and a hinged top, in combination with a "device for suspending the receptacle from the rope, consisting of hinged clamping wingshaving upon their inner sides suitable gripping surfaces, a suitable hooks or fastenings depending from each of the wings for attaching thereto the bail of the receptacle, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

J OHAN MARTIN. Witnesses:

C. O. HERVEY, GEO. V. KOENIG. 

